Passenger's suspicious claim diverts North Carolina-bound jet to Maine

BANGOR, Maine -- Most passengers aboard a Paris-to-North Carolina flight that diverted to Maine said they didn't know what was going on until the plane was on the ground.

Passengers said they were informed that the Boeing 767 was landing in Maine to refuel before police took a passenger into custody. Dr. William Milam from Richmond, Va., said fellow passengers were stunned but that there was no drama.

Officials briefed on Tuesday's incident said a French passenger passed a note to a flight attendant saying she had a surgically implanted device. The FBI and Homeland Security Department warned airlines that terrorists are considering surgically hiding bombs inside humans.

Two F-15 fighters scrambled to escort Flight 787, with its 179 passengers and nine crew members, to Bangor, Maine. After a 3 1/2-hour delay, it continued to Charlotte, N.C.

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Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan in Washington, David Sharp and Clarke Canfield in Portland, Maine, and Denise Lavoie and Jay Lindsay in Boston contributed to this